N.J.’s Kevin Spacey to host 2017 Tony Awards

Kevin Spacey in 2016. The Oscar and Tony-winning New Jersey native has been announced as this year’s Tony Awards host. (Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

He may be more closely associated with his Academy Award-winning roles in “American Beauty” and “The Usual Suspects” and his Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe-winning turn as scheming politician Frank Underwood on Netflix’s “House of Cards,” but Kevin Spacey has been chosen to preside over Broadway’s big night this summer.

Spacey, 57, a native of South Orange who won a Tony in 1991 for “Lost in Yonkers,” will host the 2017 Tonys at Radio City Music Hall in June. The news arrived on Tuesday shortly before nominations are set to be announced, in early May. The announcement came late this year, Variety reports, a notion that Spacey addressed in a statement:

“I was their second choice for ‘Usual Suspects,’ fourth choice for ‘American Beauty’ and 15th choice to host this year’s Tony Awards,” Spacey said.

“Late Late Show” host and “Carpool Karaoke” maestro J.K. Corden hosted the Tonys last year, when “Hamilton” was the obvious big winner.